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What does "bounded context" mean in programming?

bounded context is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.

Definition

A concept from Domain-Driven Design that defines a clear boundary within which a particular domain model applies. Inside a bounded context, terms have consistent meanings. Different bounded contexts can use the same word (e.g. 'User') to mean different things, and they communicate via APIs or events.

Example

"In our system, 'User' means different things in the auth context and the billing context — each bounded context owns its own model."

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